This summer we're offering a mix of contemporary tales and nostalgic wanderings. From the quirky details of Gabriel Byrne's Irish upbringing to a powerful cabaret performance that will leave you wanting more, there's something for everyone. Explore all four productions below, as well as everything Audible Theater has to offer here.
Eric Bogosian first presented these monologues about the hetero-male psyche—a mix of comical creeps and misfits, icky misanthropes and madmen—in downtown 1980s New York City. At the time, he held up a mirror to the gluttony for power, money, and sex of that era, so how does actor Andre Royo—a Bronx native of Afro-Cuban descent best known to fans as Bubbles from The Wire—inhabit these junkies and hustlers for a 21st century audience? With wit and charm, of course, but he also can be seriously intense to the point of making you uncomfortable. Trigger warning: Some of these men are outright disgusting and will make your skin crawl—especially the fire-and-brimstone preacher who rails against abortion clinics and advocates for bloodshed—but Royo manages to bring an unrivaled intensity and humanity to all these deplorables. —Jerry P.
If you've ever seen Eva Noblezada on Broadway (in Hadestown or elsewhere), you know that she has one of the defining voices of her generation. A powerhouse performer, she got her big break as a high school finalist in the Jimmy Awards, and every Broadway role she has inhabited has garnered her a Tony Award nomination. To say that she rocked the Minetta Lane Theatre earlier this year is an understatement; I could have sworn that the space shook with her power. Not only did she share her rich vocals in the intimate venue with us, she shared the real Eva. We got to know the artists that inspired her from childhood, the exploration of her proud Filipino Mexican heritage, and ruminations on her beloved newfound "hometown" of New York City. Listen to her out-of-this-world voice—and stay for a surprise finale that will leave you breathless. —Sara C.
Gabriel Byrne takes you on an immersive ride through dream-filled memory in Walking with Ghosts, which is adapted from his memoir of the same name. As the critically acclaimed septuagenarian Irish actor reflects on painful and playful moments of his past, he imitates some of the oddballs of his Dublin boyhood, with lots of quirky lingo to enjoy. At times, the mood gets a little eerie, but it's more spellbinding than scary. Fans of his roles in The Usual Suspects or In Treatment may want more Hollywood anecdotes, but his stories hinge on the vernacular of his childhood, with traumatic stories about a friend’s death and a predatory priest. Byrne’s expressiveness, storytelling, and Irish accent kept me captivated, and listening to this stage performance sparked my own trip down memory lane. —Disha M.
After coming across a vibrant painting at a flea market in the Catskills, gallerist Yésica Ortega is intent on solving the mystery of the next great American artist. But when she calls up Reinalda Paraíso (who enigmatically calls herself the "126-Year-Old Artist"), it’s clear this ain’t gonna be easy—especially after they meet and Yésica brings a bottle of Sailor Jerry rum rather than something appropriately Caribbean. As the relationship between the two Latinas from different generations develops, we are drawn into an unusual art caper and get a glimpse at the tensions of being Brown and queer in the United States. C. Quintana’s new commission for the Audible Emerging Playwright Fund—performed by an immensely talented cast of actors—offers a thrilling tale that has unexpected twists and turns to keep listeners guessing. —Jerry P.
